Stattmeister

Artur Boruc linked with Bayern... Jesus wept...

Roy Hodgson was there tonight as well. No doubt some food for thought for him...

'Tis true, the building remains. If I get a chance at the w/e I'll take some pics and email to somewhere on here to upload, but lots of it is obscured by (pilchards' now famous for spying) bushes/trees. Delighted to say I didn't see your chopper at the weekend.

They've another 100 pages to go for the thread on a possible incoming star player - no commitment...!

He did get a song yesterday - brown girl in the ring IIRC.

I meant Ramirez, ok...

All the rumours for Rodriguez, Benayoun and (with a pinch of salt) Zaha. Any news on defenders...?

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/8033727/QPR-eye-Danish-defender Kjaer would be an excellent addition.

Can Boilesen play CB as well do you (or anyone) know? I guess the plan would be "in extremis".

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2012/08/29/boro-braced-for-bad-news-on-captain-rhys-williams-84229-31718653/ Local paper says he was injured in thr match and could be out for months... or am i being daft?

Thanks DD. I know SKY like to build up the "transfer window slams shut" rhetoric but it feels different to be properly involved in it somehow!

https://twitter.com/DL_corriere/status/240500858482212864/photo/1/large And another.

https://twitter.com/DL_corriere/status/240500858482212864/photo/1 Does that work? Bologna training ground. The natives are restless.

Whenever I see this thread, I find myself thinking: "Kana-Biyik? Yes you can." Good ole A Tribe Called Quest.

With Simon Peach talking to NA today, hopefully we'll get much more clarity on it - a glint in his eye and a smile with "No comment" will speak volumes and hopefully suggests it's on... if he hints at other tagrets, more than likely off? I doubt we'll get a crystal answer so will leave us more to discuss the nuances of particular words and phrasing. Bang goes another day at work.

Thanks mate - To add to yours: My post earlier with the (poor) google translation seemed to suggest that Ramirez is training alone which validates 6? I maybe wrong. He wants out now as do Bologna whom we now know have a history of financial woe and have been stung before - hence their reticence? Assuming they are of course even interested still, Spurs and Liverpool have to also meet the same demands (this bankers guarantee/12 month payment business), Spurs could apparently agree to this (whether they got that far could be disputed as we clearly were given permission to talk to him prior to agreeing a fee/package. Spurs couldn't agree personal terms with Gaston (and are now looking elsewhere, e.g. possibly Willian and with Adebayor signed up, you'd think that might be them sorted up top?). Similarly, Liverpool need to sell (Carroll) to buy but with Rodgers and the influence of Suarez and Coates I think are our biggest rivals. I saw the Citeh link as well but I think with Sinclair rumoured to be heading there this probably is just a 2+2=5. Penarol are reportedly happy with their share (1.5 million... pounds, euros, dollars or friggin rupees I don't know) but there has been some conjecture over agents fees and that with Penarol, agents, installments and bank guarantees it has all got a bit complicated. I read a story about the "real price" of RVP the other day which detailed how complex these packages are - I guess this has more issues than any deal that we've been involved with before now? Considering our MO is keep it quiet 'til it's done, I don't think I've ever seen so much detail about the figure, length of term of installments, wages etc out in the open. I think there's no denying he'll be off this window - it won't be a deadline day job at SOU airport will it?! Cripes, Sky would have a field day.... You're damned if you do, damned if you don't - if we go for promising Champ players we're not ambitious enough and when we go for a top drawer player we're overly ambitious and wasting our time!

I suppose the question is now; HCDAJFU if not Ramirez? Another marquee signing that is achievable?

My italian speaking friend is back from holiday tomorrow so i expect better translation; not sure I've seen this yet on here, but forgive me if it has been posted already in the previous 53 pages...source corriere di bologna (tuesday, no idea time). Ramirez is indefinitely but the Southampton is nearest Double summit in Bologna, the Saints and the agents of the player: there is still debate. Liverpool will try again. Guaraldi not spring, but already talk with Floccari MARKET Ramirez is indefinitely but the Southampton is nearest Double summit in Bologna, the Saints and the agents of the player: there is still debate. Liverpool will try again. Guaraldi not spring, but already talk with Floccari Gaston Ramirez LONDON - The day that was to bring the white smoke from Gaston Ramirez and Southampton was actually a day of long and intensive contacts between the parties continued until late at night: on the one hand the Saints, on the other Bologna with dg Zanzi closed all day in the office and in contact with both the president Guaraldi both the red and white and the player's agent Pablo Bentancur. The parties are certainly closer than skirmishes last weekend but the officer still has not arrived, and yesterday, at sunset Gaston Ramirez was still in a Casteldebole invaded by wasps to train apart from his friend Gimenez (both are bruised ), a few meters away from Manolo Gabbiadini, the new purchase rossoblù yesterday held its first training session in Bologna. Those who expected the absence of Ramirez as a sign of his final assignment had to write instead the absence of Casarini, which seems on the verge of sale (Cagliari on him, another team of several A and B). Manolo Gabbiadini ALSO LIVERPOOL - Gaston was there before the gym and then in the field, probably waiting rumors about his future still hangs in the balance, since different voices from England yesterday showed the standoff between Bologna and Southampton also due to the inclusion teams who had already followed the Uruguayan and outputs are defeated by the first day of the Premier League, Liverpool and Tottenham (but want a first peak) in the head. The Reds, in particular, would have moved after almost lost madridista Sahin destination Arsenal, but the cost is very high dell'uruguagio for them - because they failed to give the tip Carroll, who would in their coffers the money needed - and there are those who suspect an act of disturbance because the same Southampton is trying to blow the Liverpool also lending the phenomenal baby Barcelona striker Cristian Tello. The Southampton then remains decidedly in the lead after two days of talks really constant to cover the "pull" of the last week: the parties have approached and even today, despite the white smoke itself did not arrive, the Saints arriving signals confidence. EARLY - The Ramirez stay the same until late in Casteldebole is a further signal of the desire to close the deal in a short time, considering that the commitments of today Zanzi - in Rome for the match-fixing process - are likely to further extend the tempi.In bottom of the figure offered by Southampton (which also seeks Luca Biglia) would come to 15 million requested by the clean Bologna, the distance - until late last night-there was only the tranche payment and guarantees required by the Bologna to cover the amount that the Saints will have to pay at a later date, but at the latest within 12 months requested by Guaraldi. Another clue of white smoke now close is the presence, in various interviews, Fifa agent Claudio Vigorelli: an intermediary between the parties, but also an agent of Sergio Floccari, the player of Lazio Pioli required to fill at least in part - also probed Vukusic, class '91 Hajduk Split, and remain alive tracks Elkeson Botafogo and Bueno of Nacional Montevideo-l'eventuale void left dall'uruguagio. Unlikely to be a coincidence.

I did a "drive by" there yesterday (excuse the shooting pun) and didn't see a sausage. I should wait on the grassy knoll that is Bolton's Bench in case it's true... Joking aside - The Limewood is set far back so no chance of seeing anything from the road - but his agent is here accordingy to the Italian Press so maybe there is a room booked for Ramirez and he arrived after the Varese match.

I read this morning (maybe SSN?) that Buttner said Man U had made themselves known as interested a month ago http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11906/8005307/Buttner-closes-on-United-move He was all lined up to sign with us mid July (I was in t'Egypt and I think it was about July 11/12th?) the minute that happened, we were never in the race and I'm flipping certain if we had agreed to pay him more than Utd, he still wouldn't have joined us over them. Therefore no blame to be laid at our doors there IMO. Simon Peach also confirmed that prior to the weekend the deal was dead.

Agreed - even Robbie Savage on 5Live yesterday added value - he was talking through the physio's action with Aguero and explaining that was a test for the cruciate ligament injury.... the Lawro brigade is just tiresome and the format needs some new vitality; disappointing following the beeb's decent coverage of the Olympics... it's all a bit old boys brigade and therefore tiresome! Back to Ramirez, here's hoping. The lad uploaded a pic of himself on his official twitter yesterday with him in the crowd at the Varese game - I assume to appease fans/board etc that he is not being disrespectful. Clearly someone's had a word in his ear...?

Maybe Ramirez saw our shirts and thought we were Liverpool. Nonetheless I'm not moaning.... too excited to moan (that came out wrong - so did that...)...

Fair play mate.

I just can't believe we'd sign all three of Buttner, Ramirez and Phillips. I think we are pawns in a grander scheme to secure Ramirez a more lucrative gig, but whether knowingly or not I don't know (Would NC entertain that??) - either two out of the three would be great however, although Ramirez is of course the "marquee" here. I think like everyone I'm pleased it is picking up and exciting at the prospect of these chaps turning out in red(and white). Could just do with that little bit more cover at the back but with Modric moving, Agger possibly and such like I would like to think the merry-go-round starts to gtaher pace after a Euro/Olympic filled delay.

Didn't players like Sean Davis play in all four tiers of the English leagues? Granted he's a one off but clearly they didn't buy their success. And Steve Marlet at £11.5m didn't quite work out... However, I get your point - but who did Fulham buy in 2001 that meets your criteria - proven premier league quality that didn't cost the earth? And whom would you suggest we be looking at (I know, subjective). For my view, I sort of agree as the players we have signed are exciting but whether they will succeed, no-one knows; our team, and our signings thus far (Davis notwithstanding) are unproven... hey, so would Hooper, Lens and Buttner be! I'm struggling to think of players in the required positions (GK, CB and RM) who meet this criteria whom I think are a.) available and b.) would be willing to join... Hennesey, Robinson, Gomes, Stockdale? Dann, Olsson, Hanley, N'Zonzi, Givet, Davies, Ward, Berra, Bramble? Jarvis, MPetrov, Holden, Davies, Vaughan, Gosling, Mackie, Hoilett, Bentley? I'm not by any stretch suggesting TCDAJFU; just that these are Premier League players that have may meet this criteria. But is that what we want? As they are current you could argue there is a wage issue - they are already on big money and as others have commented, heading the the Eredivise etc. allows us to purchase "value", both in cost and wages. By buying from the Premier League you could argue that we are paying a premium, much like paying for British talent.